PASSAGE 98 ACID RAIN Acid rain is now a familiar problem in the industrialized countries in Europe Gasses like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are produced by power stations and cars The gasses dissolve in rainwater, and this makes the acid rain, which damages trees, rivers and streams Acid rain is also capable of dissolving some rocks and buildings made of soft rock, such as limestone, are particularly affected The acid rain attacks the rock, and so carvings and statues are eroded much more quickly Scientists estimate the rate of wear to be about a millimeter of stone every twelve years That's enough to have caused some of the ancient carvings to become seriously damaged already VOCABULARY r DEFINITIONS To dissolve: To melt To affect: To influence To estimate: To guess Carving: Statue, monument To damage: To harm To erode: To wear , Wear: Erosion, friction Statue: Figure in wood, stone, bronze, etc V EXEKCI5E5 Complete the sentences with a suitable form of the words defined above By the year 2010 the World Health Organisation that up to 100 million people will be infected with HIV For a long time it has'been known that heavy drinking during pregnancy can badly a baby's development Put in remaining ingredients and gently cook, stirring until sugar These bricks are generally thicker and harder-fired than wall tiles, to enable them to stand up to heavy without cracking 5 'Nearer the top, all the soil and loose stones had been completely away, leaving a huge dome of smooth gray rock READING COMPREHENSION I It is obvious in the passage that acid rains A) B) C) D) E) not only damage nature but also buildings are only made up of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, even dissolve rainwater are affected by some rocks such as limestone lead to problems all over the world, Acid rain A) B) C) D) E) erodes Europe produces sulphur and nitrogen wears out rocks becomes seriously damaged is affected by carvings The wear about a millimeter of stone every 20 years shows that A) B) C) D) E) it is too early to take actions against acid rains serious harm had already been done to some ancient carvings acid rain is not a problem to be taken seriously there is still time for ancient statues to be eroded scientists should not be alarmed unnecessarily PASS AGE 99 BIRDS' NAVIGATIONAL ABILITY So far all attempts to relate the bird's navigational ability to electric forces and magnetic activity have failed Magnets, and minute radio transmitters, attached to the bird's body, not interrupt or influence migration Radar beams bombarding the bird invisibly have no known effect Rotation of migrants in covered cages during transport by car or plane does not confuse them on release One look at the celestial clues, their sky compass, and the really expert long-distance birds are away in the correct direction Birds are not proved to carry a magnetic compass VOCABULARY > DEFI/vITT EXERCISES Complete the sentences with a suitable form of the words defined above Sadly, the thief who leaves no and is careful disposing of his ill-gotten gains is unlikely to be caught There is a belief that bodies in some way influence our planet and ourselves Work out a sound crop for vegetables to deny pests a continuous supply of particular host plants Benny made a adjustment to configure the goggles to her own eyesight, and frowned in the darkness READING COMPREHENSION The main topic of the passage is A) the navigational ability of birds throughout the ages B) how electric forces and magnets not affect a bird's orientation C) the bombardment of radar beams • D) the way the birds look at the celestial clues, E) radio transmitters and compasses The magnets placed on birds A) B) C) D) E) interrupt- the migration of birds act as a compass have no effect at all act as transmitters confuse the birds The assumptions about birds' navigational ability have failed because A) radar beams affected the rotation of migrants B) they can only be confused if they are kept in a car or plane •C) they are not affected by outside influence in finding their way D) radio transmitters show the birds how to find their way • E) covered cages are not used for the rotation of migrants PASSAGE 100 \ - TOLERANCE Lack of tolerance is an important problem of our age People have been so intolerant of each other that even trivial matters may spark serious arguments Living conditions can be said to compel people to spend most of their time concentrating on their business or their personal affairs This may deprive people of exchanging their ideas with others or trying to understand different people However, it doesn't seem impossible to form a tolerant society The thing we should first is to take up social activities to require that we share more with other people VOCABULARY Tolerance: Patience Trivial: Insignificant To spark: To start, to kindle To share: To go halves, to portion To deprive: To take away, to deny To require: To necessitate, to involve Intolerant: Impatient Age: Era, epoch To compel: To force To exchange: To swap To take up: To begin EXERCISES Complete the sentences with a suitable form of the words defined above The real issues will be debated rather than the details What the idea off, I really don't know He is not subject to any action which could him to change his attitudes or behavior If the seller commits a breach of condition or a breach of warranty, this will the buyer of substantially the whole benefit of the contract When she found she wals putting on some weight, she swimming regularly READING COMPREHENSION It is pointed out in the passage that A) B) C) D) intolerance has been a serious problem in our age lacking tolerance doesn't make people quarrelsome unimportant problems make people aggressive living conditions prevent people from focusing on their work or their own problems E) people should neglect their individual interests to be tolerant It is implied in the passage that A) people have been intolerant of each other due to unimportant matters B) trivial problems make our lives unbearable C) we should concentrate on others' affairs rather than ours D) people's having to spend most of their time on their own business prevent them sharing their thoughts with others E) people don't need to share anything with others unless they are tolerant We can infer from the passage that A) it isn't easy to form a tolerant society as long as we concentrate on our work.* B) it is possible that we will feel lonely unless we take up social activities C) social activities can contribute to forming a tolerant society D) it doesn't seem possible to form a tolerant" society owing to the problems in our age E) intolerant people should spend most of their time on their , own PASSAGE 101 AN UNPLEASANT ENCOUNTER Ten years before, Paul and I had been friends and allies, but the friendship had somewhat soured and thinned since Nor had either of us been best pleased when each had discovered that the other was planning a journey, and a book, about the British coast It was too close a coincidence for comfort Paul was working his way round clockwise by train and on foot, while I was going counterclockwise by sea At Brighton the two plots intersected briefly and uneasily aboard Gosfield Maid VOCABULARY > DEFINITIONS Ally; Friend, partner To sour : To spoil Coincidence: Chance, luck To thin: To weaken To intersect: To meet, to overlap Plot: Plan, scheme Aboard: On board, on (the ship, train, bus) Clockwise: (moving) in the direction taken by the hands of a clock Counterclockwise: (moving) in the direction opposite to that taken by the hands of a clock x EXERCISES Complete the sentences with a suitable form of the words defined above To his right the wood gave way to rolling cornfields by a farm track that twisted between the crops I was happy and didn't want the pleasure of anticipation by a row with him Because of her illness, her eyes were growing larger as her face with every day that passed We must establish at once what type of character each is to play in the It was just a curious that Hatton had been killed on the day following that of Mrs Fanshawe's regaining , consciousness READING COMPREHENSION It's quite clear in the passage that Paul and the writer A) B) C) D) E) are not good friends anymore are quarrelling all the time, were pleased with each other first met on a Journey have been friends for ten years They were unhappy when they learned that both A) B) C) D) E) had written a book lived on the British coast were intending to the same thing were going on foot had planned to go to different places Their destination was A) B) C) D) E) a town called Gosfield Maid the same although the route was different a ship called Brighten different but the route was the same an island off the British coast PASSAGE 102 A PASSAGE TO INDIA It's worth seeing "A Passage to India" for two reasons: the photography and the performance of Dame Peggy Ashcroft as Mrs Moore, the wise, kind old lady who goes to India to see her son The heroine is the girl who travels with her and accuses a young Indian doctor of rape The climax of the film is the court case where she finally admits that he is innocent If you are attracted by Indian history, then this film is for you It happens to give a good idea of what it was like under British colonial rule But, above all, it is an artistic film beautifully directed by David Lean, It is full of quiet imagery, best shown in the erotic Hindu statues that so frighten the heroine, as compared with the solid, heavy sculpture of Queen Victoria outside the local court VOCABULARY , > DEFINITIONS Wise: Intelligent, clever Heroine: Leading actress Case: Legal action, suit Imagery: images Sculpture: Statue, monument Solid: Hard, concrete Climax: Event of greatest interest Cou,rt: Place where law-cases are held To admit: To acknowledge, to confess Above all: In particular, most of all To rape :,to Force sexual intercourse on Worth: Giving a satisfactory, rewarding return for ^ EXERCISES Complete the sentences with a suitable form of the words defined above Meeting her was the turning point in my life," he * We have read about their , that their trial was unfair — even the Appeal Court agrees on this — and ask that they are released immediately on/i This aid money — US$1 billion per annum — is crucial to the fulfilment of the government's economic policies She was nearing the of her speech, eyes bright, cheeks flushed, voice rising: , despite frequent irritation with Helen over trivial expenses, he relied heavily on her temper, 'her genius for joy", to help him break free of these moods READING COMPREHENSION A Passage to India is worth seeing because it is A) B) C) D) E) historically accurate beautifully filmed and acted full of action full of Indian works of art about the Indian history 2, The heroine in "A Passage to India" A) is Mrs Moore's daughter B) is played by Peggy Ashcroft C) tells the truth to David Lean D) is frightened by the Hindu statues E) is impressed by the heavy statues The most important part of the film is where A) B) C) D) E) the erotic Hindu statues are the young Indian doctor disturbs her the hero is found guilty India is shown under British Colonial rule the heroine withdraws her accusation PASSAGE 103 THE MAGIC OF TOUCH Infants usually satisfy this very basic need in the course of an ordinary day spent with their parents However, if a baby is neglected or even mistreated by being deprived of touch, his development will suffer on all levels-physical, intellectual and emotional Some children have even been known to die from this lack of tactile stimulation; it is thought by many doctors that many unexplained " deaths" are directly related to lack of touch and its various consequences Children given out for adoption at a tender age and placed in poorly run orphanages, children brought up by unaffectionate parents, and children whose parents touch them only to beat them-all types of children run the risk of never reaching their potential as fully developed adults VOCABULARY Infant: Baby To satisfy: To meet, to fulfill In the course of: During, throughout To mistreat: To abuse, to maltreat To be deprived of: To be without Tactile: Related to the sense of touching, tangible Stimulation: Motivation Tender age: Young age Adoption: Taking somebody to one's family as a relation To run the risk: To risk Orphanage: Home for those who lost one or both of his Parents To bring up: To raise, to educate Unaffectionate: Not showing love Complete the sentences with a suitable form of the words defined above He knows how it feels to lose a father at a age Kevin Costner's Dances With Wolves is a deeply moving tale about how the white man American Indians, exhibitions help blind people enjoy the magic of sculpture, and theatres like Show of Hands encourage those who are deaf to enjoy live theatre like everyone else is pursued as an option for an increasing number of children in care There had been games, a lovely feed, gifts for children at the local , READING COMPREHENSION We can understand that physical contact A) B) C) D) E) is an important factor in an infants' overall development is necessary for the adults to feel better emotionally is not necessary provided that the infant is fed properly can be an important factor.in recovering from an illness has nothing to with the development of an infant Children cannot become fully developed adults A) when they have psychological problems ' B) if they are devoid of parental love C) although they are given affection D) in spite of the love their parents give them E) unless they employ their potentials Babies suffering from the lack of parental touch A) B) C) D) E) may not show affection to their own children feel better than the ones who get it could become successful adults need more toys than the other babies might even lose their lives PASSAGE 104 THE ENVIRONMENTAL DETERIOTAION The deterioration of the earth's environment is the result of the impact of each individual on the environment multiplied by the number of individuals Suppose you could choose any lifestyle you wished, you could, for example, choose to be a Buddhist monk- or nun of certain sects You would be forbidden to have money and be pious You could own your begging bowl, a razor, a needle and thread, and that is all, your presence on earth would cause very little deterioration of the environment On the other hand, you could choose to be an American millionaire You might own several polluting factories and have a half dozen children-all eventually with their own houses, cars, and polluting factories It is obvious that then, they would contribute much more to environmental deterioration than the Buddhist monk or nun Deterioration: Worsening, decline Impact: Effect, shock, blow To forbid: To ban, to prohibit To contribute : To add to Eventually: Finally To multiply: To increase, to reproduce Mu^k: Priest Nun: Holly woman Sect: Cult Pious: Religious To beg: To ask EXERCISES Complete the sentences with a suitable form of the words defined above He went to her and to be told the truth A hard on an unprotected bone can result in severe bleeding under the skin Our difficulties almost in inverse proportion to our developing experience 4 Courtesy him from asking the reason for this unexpected visit Alcohol is a drink to be avoided in the minds of the worshippers READING COMPREHENSION It is clear in the passage that the life style A) B) C) D) E) of a person deteriorates his friend's life is an important factor in polluting the environment one chooses does not determine one's environmental impact contributes to the environment in a positive way an individual chooses may not help him to improve his situation The comparison of a Buddhist and a millionaire is intended to , A) show how similar they are when the environment is considered B) draw attention to the peaceful life that a millionaire leads C) help them understand how each of them leads a valuable life D) make them understand the value of money E) illustrate the degree of the environmental pollution that individuals of different lifestyles might cause The richer a person is A) B) C) D) E) the less impact he has on the environment the more he pollutes the environment he produces more thrash his life becomes more luxurious more parts of the earth are safe from pollution PASSAGE 105 THE BICYCLE [My mother] was a magician at making her money last longer That December, with Christmas approaching, she was out to work and Doris was in the kitchen when I barged into her bedroom one afternoon in search of a safety pin Since her bedroom opened onto a community hallway, she kept the door locked, but needing the pin, I took the key from its hiding place, unlocked the door, and stepped in Standing against the wall was a big, black bicycle with balloon tires I recognized it instantly It was the same second-hand bike I'd been admiring in a Baltimore shop window I'd even asked about the price It was horrendous Something like $15 Somehow my mother had scraped together enough for a down payment and meant to surprise me with the bicycle on Christmas morning VOCABULARY j > DEFINITIONS Magician: Wizard, conjurer To last: To survive, to endure To barge into : To enter, to make one's way in In search of : Looking for Instantly: At once, immediately Second-hand: Not new Horrendous: Terrible, awful To scrape together: To obtain with effort Down payment: First installment > EXERCISES Complete the sentences with a suitable form of the words defined above Hibernation for between four and five months, from October until March or a little later in the north of Britain Having her way through the shopping crowds of Greenwich, she emerged with great relief onto the A2 210 ... British coast PASSAGE 102 A PASSAGE TO INDIA It''s worth seeing "A Passage to India" for two reasons: the photography and the performance of Dame Peggy Ashcroft as Mrs Moore, the wise, kind old lady... when each had discovered that the other was planning a journey, and a book, about the British coast It was too close a coincidence for comfort Paul was working his way round clockwise by train and. .. effect at all act as transmitters confuse the birds The assumptions about birds'' navigational ability have failed because A) radar beams affected the rotation of migrants B) they can only be